In the aftermath of Manchester United’s disappointing draw against Crystal Palace, manager Erik ten Hag found himself defending his team selection decisions. The Dutch tactician had opted to bench star forward Marcus Rashford, sparking speculation among pundits about the reasons behind the move.
Despite Rashford’s recent form, which saw him score his first United goal since March in the previous week’s win over Southampton, ten Hag chose to start Alejandro Garnacho in his place. The decision raised eyebrows, particularly given Rashford’s impressive performance in the midweek thrashing of Barnsley.
As the game unfolded, Garnacho failed to capitalize on several clear-cut chances, including a curled effort that rattled the crossbar. Meanwhile, Rashford was frequently shown sitting on the bench, fueling speculation about a potential rift between the player and his manager.
However, ten Hag was quick to quash such rumors, attributing his decision to simple rotation. “I’m very happy with Marcus in everything he’s doing,” the United boss insisted. “It’s crazy when pundits bring up speculation without knowing the facts.”
The draw at Selhurst Park means United will end the weekend in the bottom half of the Premier League table, with just seven points from five games. They’ll look to bounce back in their upcoming Europa League clash against FC Twente on Wednesday, before facing Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
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